Cooling power/efficiency diagrams for compressor-driven metal hydride heat pump

Conference · Wed Dec 31 04:00:00 EST 1997

OSTI ID:345248

Lloyd, G M; Razani, A ^[1]; Kim, K J; Feldman, Jr, K T; Way, T R ^[2]

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1. Univ. of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM (United States). Mechanical Engineering Dept.
2. Thermal Electronic Devices, Inc., Albuquerque, NM (United States)

Finite-time thermodynamics is used to develop cooling power/efficiency diagrams for a compressor-driven metal hydride refrigerator. The two most important parameters--resistance to heat transfer between the reactors and the reservoirs and the thermal capacities of the system--are included in the analysis in a detailed and realistic way. The resistance to heat transfer due to low thermal conductivity inside the metal hydride reactor is appreciable and must be included in the analysis, unlike many other power systems. A simple quasi-steady-state model is used to investigate this effect and its relation to cooling power and efficiency of the system. Another interesting aspect of the metal hydride energy system is that increased finning outside the reactors reduces the efficiency--a trade-off exists between cooling power and coefficient of performance (COP). The effect of compression ratio on the system performance is also investigated. The finite-time thermodynamic analysis is a simple and powerful tool for investigating the effect of important system parameters on power and efficiency.

• OSTI ID: 345248
• Report Number(s): CONF-9702141--
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
ABSORPTION REFRIGERATION CYCLE
COMPRESSORS
HEAT TRANSFER
HYDRIDES
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
REFRIGERATORS
THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY